12+ Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes at Home

Besides family and pie, leftovers are my regular thing about Thanksgiving.

This year you may find yourself with more leftovers than you would typically. And I’m here to help. Over the years, I’ve repurposed leftovers by turning them into new recipes. From sandwiches to soups to pot pies. This is a growing list and will be updated every year as need be.

Breakfast:

The dependable way to wake up after a holiday is with a bowl of Cranberry Orange Steel Cut Oats! Orange zest and juice is mixed into creamy steel cut oats and topped with leftover cranberry sauce, vanilla yogurt and chopped toasted pecans. Yields 4 in about 35 minutes.

Casseroles:

Put your Thanksgiving leftovers to use with this Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie! A casserole of kitchen-made turkey and vegetable filling is topped with stuffing, mashed potatoes and cheese. Yields 6 to 8 generous servings.

Desserts:

Cranberry Küchen is a simple, flavor-packed dessert that’s also a great way to use up leftover cranberry sauce. A sugar cookie-like crust topped with cranberry filling and a sour cream topping. For this method you’ll need 2-1/2 cups cranberry sauce or 1 full recipe! Yields 1 (9×13) and will yield 12 to 16 pieces depending on how you cut it.

Sandwiches:

Who knew leftovers could be this savory? In this Turkey Cranberry Croissant Panini; buttery flaky croissants are smeared with from-scratch cranberry sauce and filled with tender slices of thanksgiving turkey, crispy bacon, peppery arugula and gooey brie cheese before being griddled and pressed in a panini press. Yields 4 sandwiches in about 20 minutes.

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Melts are a simple and savory way to enjoy leftovers. Thick slices of toasted Texas toast topped with all the Thanksgiving holiday fixings plus melted cheese and smothered with gravy.

This Roasted Turkey Cranberry Salad is a light and savory way to use up leftover turkey. Turkey, dried cranberries, celery and onions are tossed with toasted pecans and a light greek yogurt dressing. Serves 6 in 15 minutes.

Skillet Meals:

Transform Thanksgiving leftovers by making this straightforward Turkey Skillet Pot Pie. In this method; carrots, celery and onion are cooked until tender, and mixed with leftover turkey and diced potatoes in a creamy gravy. Topped with a flaky puff pastry, makes this turkey pot pie the go-to comfort food.

A lunchroom regular turned into a fireside comfort food! Turkey Slop is shredded leftover turkey in a luscious from-scratch pan gravy ladled over creamy mashed potatoes. This is a satisfying way to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey!

Soups:

The weekend calls for a hearty, warm bowl of Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup! If time allows, plan ahead to make the kitchen-made turkey stock and then you won’t believe how unfussy the rest of this soup is to throw together. Yields 8+ in about 35 minutes.

This creamy yet cream-less Turkey Pot Pie Soup will make good use out of your leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Simple and well-seasoned, a one-pot soup to warm your soul. Serves 6 in about 45 minutes.

Put your leftover turkey to good use in this earthy and hearty, From-scratch Turkey Wild Rice Soup. Fresh vegetables and herbs, cooked wild rice and leftover turkey in a creamy and luxurious soup. Comfy and fireside, dependable for a cold blustery day.

Turkey Mushroom Wild Rice Soup is a great way to use up leftover turkey. This creamy soup is loaded with leftover turkey, earthy mushrooms and tender vegetables and nutty wild rice. This dish yields 6 (1½-cup) servings.

Turkey Lemon Wild Rice Soup is well-seasoned, hearty and comforting. In this soup, leftover roast turkey, fresh garlic, sage, rosemary and thyme and wild rice are in a lemony creamy broth thickened by egg. Simple and short to prepare, this soup is certainly notable. Yields about 9 cups and will serve 6 generous servings.

Kitchen-made Ingredients and Condiments:

Don’t discard your turkey bones, instead make Slow Cooker Turkey Stock! Add leftover turkey bones, vegetables, herbs and spices with water and cider vinegar into your slow cooker and let it do the work. Yields approximately 12 cups in 6 hours.